Soda Stream

I just bought a Soda Stream machine yesterday to make my filter water into carbonated water!!!  WOW!  it works great and is going to save me from going and spending a couple bucks a day or Perrier or San Pellegrino and it tastes pretty good too!!!  The machine came with a bunch of sample packs which I am not really interested in, but I must say I really like the water and I am sure their sodas are probably pretty good too.... I am not really drinking soda right now, so i cannot say for sure on that end... but I just wanted to share that the Soda Stream Machine ROCKS!!  AND... my local Bed Bath and Beyond allows you to bring your empty Co2 cartridges back and they charge you less for the refills.  So, you're helping the environment too by not wasting a bunch of plastic bottles and you're re-using and recycling less!!!  WOO HOO!

Yoga X

Travis and I just finished Yoga X, one of the P90X workouts.  It was tough for me, especially after being so sore from yesterdays double workout of Plyometrics and Arms & Back.  But, I think I gave it a good attempt.  The Vinyasa section was the hardest just because I could not seem to get into runner's pose easily and felt like my moves were mechanical.... so I did not flow like I wanted to.  But, the balancing went better and the stretches at the end felt incredible... the ending makes it worth it for sure!  HAHA!  Well, now I have the rest of this beautiful Sunday to go and spend some time with Travis and hanging out in Ventura!  I cannot wait!  I'll post more after the next workout!!!
  I must say that I am feeling sore from head to toe.  I have not taken my weight or measurements yet... but I will once this week is over to see if I have made progress.  Also, I have been trying to stick to the Phase 1 diet and portion menu.  I've been doing OK... except for late last night I made a trip to Denny's..... So, I MUST get better and I must get better quickly!!!  Bad Bad Mia.  I have to be better disciplined.  I plan to get through week one and bring it even harder in week two and eat even better in week two also!

Day 3 of P90X and Life in general...

Well, today was day three of P90X.  Travis and I had to skip last nights workout... so we did Plyometrics and Shoulders and Arms today!  WOW!  I feel tired now, but energized at the same time!!!  The workouts have been good and doing them with Travis has helped keep me motivated!!!  I definitely feel the effects of the work out and am sore!!!!  So at least I know I am doing something to get my muscles working.  Tomorrow is going to be the yoga workout and I am looking forward to the focus and stretching there!!  So far so good.  I just gotta go out and go grocery shopping for some healthy stuff and get some different weights and look for some work-out gear for Travis.  So... off I go!  I'll keep you posted as we progress!!!  I can't wait until I can physically see a difference and not just feel it!

2011 is off to a GREAT Start!

So far this year, Travis and I have gone hiking 4 times on some pretty cool hikes... Devil's Punchbowl, Devil's Chair (2) and also Mische Mokwa and Sandstone Peak trail in Santa Monica Mountains.  I also bought a hybrid Marin bicycle which I have been riding to work a couple days per week.  Now, this Thursday, Travis and I are starting the p90x challenge and I can hardly wait!  We watched the first video last night and read through the diet plans and got everything scheduled and ready to go!  Gonna be great!!  We'll have to go grocery shopping and get all the foods that will be part of our diets for the next couple of weeks and we're going to need to BRING IT!!!

I'll keep you posted on how it all goes and how I am feeling!!!  I am sure it's going to be crazy!!!  I am hoping to see some good results!

Exciting things to come in 2011!

2011 has already started off to be a great year!  Travis and I went for our first hike of the year last weekend.  We went to Devil's punchbowl and we hiked about 3.25 miles.  It had snowed about a week and a half before and there was still plenty of snow on the ground!  The creek was full of clear running water and the trees and surrounding scenery was just breath taking.  Unfortunately, we got a late start to the day and the sun already started hiding behind the mountain tops on our way back to the car.  The temperature dropped quite a bit so we hurried back to the car.  This weekend, we'll be hiking to Devil's Chair.  We're planning on getting an earlier start to the day so we can enjoy the hike during daylight.... I can only hope the weather will be on our side!
So, in the next couple of months we'll be getting geared up for backpacking, hiking and camping!  Getting out into nature is such a great way to relax and enjoy all the beauty God has created for us!  It helps me to get out in the beauty of it all and re-group.
Other goals for this year, pay off several bills, get back on track with my yoga and eat healthy.  I eat way too much sugar so i am going to really start cutting back on all the junk and sweets!!!

Here is to a wonderful 2011!!!

Finding Life's Rewards

I am finally starting to feel alive again.  For awhile, I felt like I was sinking with stress from work and stress at home.  Now, I finally feel a better direction in life and also in my professional life.  This is not just by chance, but because I have been making a conscious effort to find balance, peace and joy in my life.  Although, I am not currently playing music in a band (which had always been a big stress relief for me...) I am doing things which make my life better and more enjoyable.

Sometimes, it is easy to forget what a blessing my job is.  Sometimes, it is easy to get caught up in the responsibility factor and stop looking at the rewards factor.  Being an Executive Director of an Assisted Living community has many responsibilities and stresses that go along with it.  I get too caught up in the "tasks" of the job and not in the "relationships" I am making. This week, I have been trying to focus more of my energy on the relationship aspects.  I've been trying to have more one on one time with the residents and  their families.  I have been finding the joy that comes with a big smile or a hug from a resident.  It feels so good to know that I am truly making a difference in their lives and providing a quality of life for them.  Sometimes, you  just have to forget about the papers, reports, conference calls and emails and just look at the heart of what you do.  I am so fortunate to be making a difference and going to a job where I love the people.
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Other things which have been helping me are that my husband and I have started finding some common ground with our gardening ideas and "green living." I've been enjoying our discussions and excitement about our plans.  It is so nice to have stuff we can do together.


On my own personal front, I am doing yoga again.  I found a place close to home and plan to go a couple times a week and also have started doing it on my own at home.  I feel the yoga really helps me to relax and balance myself out.  I am always such a type a person.  Always on the go and can hardly take a moment to slow down and smell the roses.  Yoga puts me in a different mindset and allows me to take life in and slow down some.  I feel less stressed and happier.  Yoga gives me a new sense of energy.

I have also been working on crafts.  Sewing curtains for the house, making hemp bracelets and I have even started studying making my own DIY household cleaners and soaps, body scrubs and more.  Pretty cool stuff indeed.


Life is good.

New Interests, Hobbies and Ideas

So, more and more Travis and I have been looking into vegetable and herb gardening and making plans for a garden in our backyard.  We've also been talking about getting chickens and possibly even a goat.  The goal, to go to the grocery store less or at least not need a lot of produce.  I'd love to learn enough to really grow some good stuff and even build a greenhouse to help with the winter weather and such.  We've already started with one cold frame to help us through the winter and I'd like to do a few more of those.

My new interest/hobby is learning how to make hemp and beaded jewelry.  I went over to the craft store today and was just astonished at the amount of really cool beads and jewels and the endless amount of options available to start making jewelry.  I got a kit to start off with making HEMP jewelry.

I am also studying aromatherapy and how to make my own body lotions, balms, oils, and more.  I'd love to be able to make some really nifty and healthy stuff for my skin.

I feel like my world has been opened into a whole new array of interesting stuff and I just cannot wait to dive in and learn, learn, learn!